Treatments · Egg freezing
Egg freezing: what it is and at what age it makes sense
Freezing eggs means retrieving them now and storing them in the laboratory for later use. It does not guarantee a pregnancy, but it leaves you more options when the timing is not right yet, or when a medical treatment may affect your fertility.
More options for later
Is egg freezing right for me? We look at it with you, with your test results in hand.
At the first visit we review your case, do an ultrasound and tell you whether freezing makes sense for you.
Eggs change over time: there are fewer of them and their quality declines. That is why freezing tends to work best in your 20s and early 30s, and is not commonly recommended after 38. Every woman is different, so we review your case first.
The process takes about two weeks. For 10 to 12 days you give yourself daily injections so several eggs mature at once, and we monitor it with ultrasound and blood tests.
When they are ready, they are retrieved in a procedure that usually takes less than half an hour, under sedation, and you go home the same day. That same day, the lab specialist checks them and freezes them.
Afterwards you may have cramping and bloating. Most women are back to their routine within a week.
When you decide to use them, they are thawed, joined with sperm in the lab, and the embryo is placed in the uterus. Freezing does not guarantee a baby: the chances depend on your age when you froze and on how many eggs were stored.
You leave the first visit with
- An explanation of your case, based on your own ultrasound.
- A plan designed for you, explained step by step.
No commitment. The office replies and proposes a date.
What patients ask most
Up to what age does egg freezing make sense?
There is no exact age, because every woman is different. It tends to work best in your 20s and early 30s, and is not commonly recommended after 38. At the visit we review your case.
Does egg freezing guarantee a pregnancy?
No. It gives you more options, but no number of eggs guarantees a baby. The chances depend on your age at freezing and on how many eggs are stored; sometimes more than one round is needed to store enough.
Does it hurt?
The eggs are retrieved under sedation. Afterwards you may have cramping and a bloated feeling that can last a few weeks.
What are the risks?
They are uncommon. The medication can make the ovaries swollen and painful, and the retrieval can cause bleeding or infection.
How long can they stay frozen?
They can be kept frozen for years. Storage is usually paid for yearly.
Sources
This page is for information only and does not replace a medical evaluation. It was prepared based on:
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